Lu lifts into record books
China’s Lu Xiaojun got the better of injured compatriot Lu Haojie to claim gold and set new world and Olympic records in an action-packed men’s 77kg Weightlifting tonight.
The battle for gold and silver got off to a thrilling start as the pair exchanged 170kg attempts before Lu Haojie failed at 175kg, leaving Lu Xiaojun to succeed and beat his own world record while also setting an Olympic best.
Lu Xiaojun then lifted a 204kg clean and jerk over his head and set a stunning total of 379kg, again eclipsing his own previous world achivements and taking Taner Sagir’s Olympic record.
Lu Haojie had previously taken to the stage to clean and jerk 190kg before passing on his next two attempts when it become clear he had sustained an arm injury, with his 360kg total still enough for silver.
Cuba’s Ivan Cambar Rodriguez edged a tight battle for bronze from Thailand’s Chatuphum Chinnawong and Egypt’s Ibrahim Ramadan Ibrahim.
